Toothpaste

[Arfer]

Idly wondering this morning AND my toothpaste tube is nearly empty.

There are many brands , some with several "Models" of paste. I suppose most are water, cleanser, abrasive, beneficial chemicals (fluoride ).

Is there any REAL difference, does any particular one stand head and shoulders (sorry for the inaccurate analogy) above the others, or is it marketing hype? There is a bicarbonate of soda brand and this is what we are exhorted to use to clean fridges etc.

Do we have a Dentist amongst us?

[YeeWo]

OH uses Sensodyne for sensitivity and feels it's worthy of the premium. I hold GSK so approve.

Unilever, which I hold, barely sell toothpaste in the UK as "marketing incentives" have seemingly been provided by Colgate to most major supermarkets which tend to crowd-out other participants. In my own one-man-protest against this I usually stock up on Unilever toothpaste when in the Far East, I therefore use Pepsodent or Close-Up which cost a fraction of Colgate's offerings in the UK. They're fine despite the lack of bells & whistles.

Using an Electric Toothbrush and changing the head regularly seems to be the best way to ensure dental health, IMHO!

Disc. No, I'm sadly not a Dentist!

[melonfool]

OH uses Sensodyne for sensitivity and feels it's worthy of the premium. I hold GSK so approve.

Unilever, which I hold, barely sell toothpaste in the UK as "marketing incentives" have seemingly been provided by Colgate to most major supermarkets which tend to crowd-out other participants. In my own one-man-protest against this I usually stock up on Unilever toothpaste when in the Far East, I therefore use Pepsodent or Close-Up which cost a fraction of Colgate's offerings in the UK. They're fine despite the lack of bells & whistles.

Using an Electric Toothbrush and changing the head regularly seems to be the best way to ensure dental health, IMHO!

Disc. No, I'm sadly not a Dentist!

I've noticed that Colgate has slipped onto the shelves at Aldi and Lidl and it's getting far harder to find their own brand now (where they generally do very few branded goods). The Colgate is £1 or more. The own brand is 65p. When I see the OB in stock I stock up now.

I think I find the sensitive ones help my sensitive teeth, so there must be something in that.

Mel

[UncleEbenezer]

I asked my last dentist this question with reference to whether I get any more by paying £2 or £3 for a name brand and/or sales gimmicks like different colour layers than 50p or £1 for a supermarket value line. The answer was No, I'm just as well off with the cheapo - at least so long as visitors to my bathroom aren't too snooty.

[dealtn]

Is there any REAL difference?

For someone that can't abide the taste of mint that's the real difference I look for. I suspect the other differences are small.

[UncleEbenezer]

Supplementary question on the subject of toothpaste.

Should toothpaste tubes be recyclable?

[melonfool]

Supplementary question on the subject of toothpaste.

Should toothpaste tubes be recyclable?

That's not a DAK, that's a moral judgement issue.

Mel

[swill453]

Supplementary question on the subject of toothpaste.

Should toothpaste tubes be recyclable?

That's not a DAK, that's a moral judgement issue.

Or a "don't sweat the small stuff" issue. (Toothpaste tubes per year - about 10. Crisp packets - hundreds! )

Scott.

[GrandOiseau]

Most toothpastes contain Sodium Lauryl Sulfate which is a chemical used in toothpaste to create the foaming action. SLS can cause or irritate existing allergies, canker sores and bad breath, which is why an SLS Free alternative is worth considering.

I use Sensodyne for that reason as I am prone to mouth ulcers.

[stevensfo]

As a young Biologist, I worked for 3 years in a Periodontal lab behind Whitechapel Hospital. All the dentisits said the same: the physical act of brushing is what does all the work. Fluoride helps, but how much stays in the mouth after rinsing? If any one toothpaste really were more effective than the others, it would probably be dangerous. Hydrochloric acid is good for removing tartar!

So go for a nice toothbrush and spend a bit longer brushing.

The one extra bit of advice is to examine the contents carefully and avoid those containing parabens. There is growing concern about their carcinogenic properties in body cream, suncream, toothpaste etc.


Steve

[Stompa]

Fluoride helps, but how much stays in the mouth after rinsing?

Which is why AIUI, current advice is to spit and not rinse:

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-bo ... eth-clean/

[Lootman]

As a young Biologist, I worked for 3 years in a Periodontal lab behind Whitechapel Hospital. All the dentisits said the same: the physical act of brushing is what does all the work. Fluoride helps, but how much stays in the mouth after rinsing?

That has always been my view. The one thing I do try and avoid is any toothpaste with sugar or artificial sweeteners in it, since that seems self-defeating to me.

So I usually use Tom's (of Maine) toothpaste. It's more expensive and harder to find. But at least I know I am not brushing sugar onto my teeth. That said my dentist gives me handy travel-sized tubes of Colgate every quarter when I see him, and I'm happy to use them too, especially as they are easier to get through airport security.

[jackdaww]

what is the point of using toothpaste at all ??

i loathe it so just brush .

what does toothpaste actually achieve?

[GrandOiseau]

what is the point of using toothpaste at all ??

i loathe it so just brush .

what does toothpaste actually achieve?

You don't need to use toothpaste. Some argue the fluoride is good but we have fluoride in our tap water so if you drink that you shouldn't need it.

They have abrasives which supposedly help remover the plaque but if you brush correctly aren't necessary.

There are surfactants (detergents). You don't need these either.

There are other bits and pieces like antibacterial agents, sweeteners, flavourings. Basically a bunch of stuff you don't need.

[jackdaww]

what is the point of using toothpaste at all ??

i loathe it so just brush .

what does toothpaste actually achieve?

You don't need to use toothpaste. Some argue the fluoride is good but we have fluoride in our tap water so if you drink that you shouldn't need it.

They have abrasives which supposedly help remover the plaque but if you brush correctly aren't necessary.

There are surfactants (detergents). You don't need these either.

There are other bits and pieces like antibacterial agents, sweeteners, flavourings. Basically a bunch of stuff you don't need.

=====

thats what i thought .

so we have a multi millions industry achieving nothing.

[melonfool]

You don't need to use toothpaste. Some argue the fluoride is good but we have fluoride in our tap water so if you drink that you shouldn't need it.

They have abrasives which supposedly help remover the plaque but if you brush correctly aren't necessary.

There are surfactants (detergents). You don't need these either.

There are other bits and pieces like antibacterial agents, sweeteners, flavourings. Basically a bunch of stuff you don't need.

=====

thats what i thought .

so we have a multi millions industry achieving nothing.

Well, not *nothing* - some of those multi million pound companies pay dividends into my pension. You all brush on!

Mel

[mutantpoodle]

qq

so we have a multi millions industry achieving nothing.
uq

don't worry, we have 000's of government staff achieving same results
not to mention local government and many many other sectors

the one result they DO achieve is fairly low unemployment figures!

[jackdaww]

my point is that millions of people are spending millions of pounds on a product that is not needed , and possibly is harmful .

and thats just the uk..

[melonfool]

my point is that millions of people are spending millions of pounds on a product that is not needed , and possibly is harmful .

and thats just the uk..

Yes, we understood the point you were trying to make.

Mel

[jackdaww]

my point is that millions of people are spending millions of pounds on a product that is not needed , and possibly is harmful .

and thats just the uk..

Yes, we understood the point you were trying to make.

Mel

=========================

good!

i think its a very good point and well worth re-iterating .